Backyard Movie Night Essentials

by Kevin Gardner

The thought of relaxing on a warm summer’s night in your backyard to enjoy a movie is enough to send almost anyone into a state of deep relaxation and happiness. Picture it: friends and family close by, great food and cold drinks, and one of your favorite flicks playing at home for all to see. While it may seem like a daydream, there’s never been a better time to make it a reality. After all, technology is more advanced and affordable than ever. Even if you don’t have luxurious acres of land at your disposal, there are still many ways to create a great backyard movie setup that will be the go-to destination for your friends all summer long!

Assess Your Layout

You may be lucky enough to move a few things around and get started. Or, you may need to plan and save a bit, thinking long-term about pool loans or a new deck to create the ultimate viewing space. Whichever the case, there are some simple logistics you need to consider. First off, you need to have access to electricity. If you don’t, your top priority will need to be spending a little bit of money to hire an electrician to install an outdoor outlet. This is tricky and dangerous to do on your own, so leave it to a professional. 

Also, don’t be tempted to run long, daisy chained extension cords out to the yard from inside the house. Not only does it look bad, it’s also an accident waiting to happen. Someone could easily trip and fall over them or get them caught in a sliding door. The chances of an electrocution or shock are also high when multiple power strips are involved. If the outdoor outlet seems too permanent or expensive, you might look into buying a small portable gas-run generator.

Set Up Your Screen

Obviously, your screen is the key component of backyard movie watching. You may simply be able to bring a flat screen TV outside, plug it in, power it up, and be good to go. If your home Wi-Fi is strong enough to reach with a reliable signal to your yard, you may be able to simply connect and stream movies from your favorite subscription service. For a more reliable, but slightly clunkier setup, plug into a Blu Ray player via HDMI cable and watch that way. 

A few other practical factors must be considered as well. First, is your screen big enough? It may seem a lot smaller outside than it does in your living room once you get it outside. If so, is it shielded from light so it can be seen? If you have a perfect setup other than interference from light, consider a gazebo, or building a scrim or screen-based material shield from light.

If the television is not an option, you can have fun by getting creative with a projector that will likely cost less than a TV. Hook one up to a Blu Ray player and try projecting on a very large white sheet, or even the side of a garage or your house! It may not be perfect, but it can have a very cool effect.

Lay Out Your Sound System

Lastly, sound must be considered from a few angles. You need to make sure your guests can hear. Bluetooth-connected surround sound systems, or individual free standing speakers that can be connected to each other are surprisingly powerful and will cut down on the number of cables needed. Waterproof options are available if you will be near, or even in, a pool.

It’s also important to be considerate of how much sound bleeds over to your neighbor’s yards. It’s a good idea to get them bought early in the process. Ask them if they can do a “sound check” with you to see if things are too loud in their home. Work on manageable levels and remember that inviting them over can also go a long way!

A summer full of backyard movies is a recipe for lifelong memories. Use these tips to set up your turf and get ready for fun!